Improved automatic machining system

Abstract

An automatic machining system includes a loading station for loading pieces to be machined on one or more loading pallets, a base or platform on which the following are installed in predefined positions: the loading station (10), a loader, a robot configured to handle the pieces, and at least one unloading station where the machined pieces are unloaded. The automatic machining system also includes protection sides installed along the perimeter of the base or platform, with at least one movable partition for the insertion/extraction of the loading pallets.

Claims

1. A automatic machining system (1) comprising: a loading station (10) configured to house one or more loading pallets (11, 12) carrying pieces (P) to be machined; a loader (20) configured to pick at least one pieces among the pieces (P) at a time from said loading station (10) and to transport the piece to a centering device (30); said centering device (30) being configured to receive said piece to be machined (P) and to arrange said piece in a position where said piece can be picked by a robot (60); said robot (60) having at least one mechanical arm (61) suited to handle said pieces (P) during machining in a machine tool; at least one unloading station (80) where the machined pieces (P) are positioned; a platform (100) on which said at least one loading station (10), said loader (20), said centering device (30), said robot (60) and said at least one unloading station (80) are mounted in predefined positions; and protection sides (90) installed substantially along a perimeter of said platform (100), said protection defining a space containing all devices and operating members installed on said platform (100), wherein said protection sides (90) comprise at least one first movable partition (943, 944) which defines an opening (92) configured to allow said at least one loading station (10) to be accessed for an insertion/extraction of said loading pallets (11, 12), and wherein said loading station (10) comprises two or more standby areas (13, 14) positioned side by side and separated by at least one second partition (93), each standby area (13, 14) being configured to house at least one of the one or more loading pallets (11, 12).

2. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said protection sides (90) comprise at least one third movable partition (94) configured to be selectively positioned so as to close part of said opening (92), at a level of a position of one of the one or more pallets (11, 12) which has been removed for loading.

3. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said platform (100) comprises adjustable feet (101).

4. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one machine tool, said at least one machine tool comprising at least one press (70) configured to carry out one or more machining operations on said piece, and at least one base (71) on which said at least one press (70) is mounted, and wherein said platform (100) comprises coupling means for said at least one base (71), said coupling means being positioned along or in proximity to an edge of said platform (100), so that said at least one press (70) is positioned beside said platform (100).

5. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 4, wherein said at least one base (71) is integral with said platform (100).

6. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 2, wherein said loader (20) is configured to move according to Cartesian axes, said loader comprising a carriage (21) that translates in two horizontal directions (X, Y) which are orthogonal to each other, and a gripping device (22) configured to move vertically with respect to said carriage (21) above said loading station (10).

7. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one third partition (94) comprises at least one vertical portion (941) and at least one horizontal covering (942) that is superimposed to at least one of said standby areas (13, 14).

8. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 6, wherein said standby areas (13, 14) are positioned side by side in a direction that is parallel to one of the two horizontal directions (X, Y) of the carriage (21) of said loader (20).

9. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 6, wherein said at least one third partition (94) translates in a same direction (X), along a translation caused and controlled by the loader (20).

10. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one unloading station (80) is configured with one or more unloading areas (801, 802) in which the one more loading pallets may be placed so as to accommodate the machined pieces, which are positioned in said one or more unloading areas (801, 802) by said robot (60).

11. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 10, wherein said one or more unloading areas (801, 802) are positioned side by side and are provided with at least one movable fourth partition (951, 952) which selectively allows/prevents access to said one or more unloading areas (801, 802).

12. The automatic machining system (1) according to claim 10, wherein said two or more standby areas (13, 14) and said one or more unloading areas (801, 802) are arranged and aligned along a same substantially rectilinear side (97) of the automatic machining system.

Description

[0043] The characteristics of the present invention will be better clarified by the following description with reference to the drawings, attached by way of a non-limiting example.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a possible embodiment of the new system (1), while

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows the system of FIG. 2 without safety walls (90).

[0047] The new compact and pre-assembled system (1) for the automatic machining of workpieces comprises a base or platform (100) in turn equipped with adjustable feet (101), for example comprising plates suited to be constrained to the ground by anchoring means.

[0048] The platform (100) also comprises suitably distributed anchoring points for lifting equipment.

[0049] On said platform (100) all the stations that are part of the system are already installed, and in particular, for example, a loading station (10), intended to house one or more loading pallets (11, 12) with the workpieces (P) to be machined.

[0050] In the embodiment in the figures, there are two of said pallets (11, 12) and they are each positioned in a standby area (13, 14) of said loading station (10).

[0051] A loader (20) suited to take at least one workpiece (P) at a time from said loading area (10) is also installed on said platform (100).

[0052] Said loader (20) is preferably able to be translated according to Cartesian axes, comprising a carriage (21) that translates in two horizontal and orthogonal directions (X, Y), and a gripping device (22) suited to move vertically with respect to said carriage (21). Said carriage (21) moves above said pallets (11, 12) positioned in said loading station (10) and said gripping device selects and picks up the workpiece (P) to be machined, which is then transported outside said loading station (10) to a centering device (30).

[0053] Also installed on said platform (100), is said at least one centering device (30) suited to receive said workpiece (P) and to place it in its pick-up position for a robot (60).

[0054] Said centering device (30) comprises, for example, a tilting plane on which a reference point or zero point is pre-established. When a workpiece (P) is positioned on said plane, the latter is brought to an inclined picking position so that the workpiece (P) is in the proper position with respect to said zero point.

[0055] At least one tool magazine for the machine tool (70) and at least one gripping tool magazine for at least one robot (60) suited to handle the workpieces to be machined are also installed on said platform (100).

[0056] Said at least one robot (60) is also installed on said platform (100), with at least one mechanical arm (61) suited to: pick up and mount the gripping tools; pick up and mount the tools for the machine tool; pick-up said workpieces from said centering device; move said workpieces during their processing in said machine tool; place the finished workpieces on at least one unloading device or station (80).

[0057] The system (1) also comprises at least one machine tool, and in particular at least one press (70), suited to perform one or more operations, such as bending and/or drilling and/or punching in general.

[0058] Said press (70) has operating parts that require tools selectable from said tool magazine (40).

[0059] Said press (70) is in turn mounted on a base or raised portion (71) comprising coupling means to secure it properly to said platform (100) in an appropriate position, such that said press (70) is positioned next to said platform (100) in a precise and pre-established position with respect to said robot (60).

[0060] The new system (1) also comprises at least one unloading station (80), where said robot (60) places the machined workpieces (P).

[0061] An additional unloading station (82) may also be positioned on said platform (100) and therefore inside said system (1). In this case, access to said further unloading station (82) requires stopping the processing cycle.

[0062] The new system (1) also comprises safety walls (90) mounted substantially along the perimeter of said platform (100), which define a space in which all the working parts installed on said platform (100) are contained.

[0063] The system (1) conveniently also comprises additional safety walls, mounted substantially around said press (70), and joined to said safety walls (90) mounted on said platform (100).

[0064] Said safety walls (90) mounted on said platform (100) comprise at least one movable partition (943, 944) that determines at least one opening (92) for accessing said loading station (10), to enable the insertion/removal of said loading pallets (11, 12) in the respective standby areas (13, 14).

[0065] In the preferred embodiment, each area (13, 14) has its own access opening, closable with a movable partition (943, 944).

[0066] Said standby areas (13, 14) of said pallets (11, 12) are separated from each other by at least one fixed partition (93).

[0067] When the pallets (11, 12) are properly positioned in the relative standby areas (13, 14), the movable partitions (943, 944) can be closed to prevent access by people within the space delimited by said safety walls (90).

[0068] Each standby area (13, 14) is also preferably delimited on all sides.

[0069] The system (1) preferably operates, as noted, with at least two standby areas (13, 14) side by side in said loading station (10), where said Cartesian axis loader (20) operates, and which in turn picks up the workpieces (P) from above.

[0070] Once one of the two loading pallets (11, 12) located in a standby area (13, 14) is empty, processing can continue by picking up the workpieces to be processed from the second pallet of the other standby area (13, 14), while extracting and inserting a new first pallet with workpieces to process.

[0071] In one possible embodiment, said safety walls (90) comprise a single movable partition suited to be selectively positioned in one of said standby areas (13, 14), for example at the position of the pallet (11, 12) which has been removed for loading operations.

[0072] Said movable partition (94) may also comprise a vertical portion (941) and a horizontal covering (942) overlying said standby area (13, 14).

[0073] Consequently, when a pallet (11, 12) is extracted from the relative standby area (13, 14), said movable partition (94) is placed at the remaining empty standby area, so that access is granted only to the empty standby area, but not within the space where working parts are in motion. Said covering (942) also protects from above.

[0074] In the embodiment in the figure, said standby areas (13, 14) are side by side (X) in a direction parallel to a direction of translation of the carriage (21) of said Cartesian loader (20). Therefore, in order to selectively obstruct one of said standby areas (13, 14), said movable partition (94) must substantially translate in that direction. Said translation is usefully performed by said Cartesian loader (20) which, before extracting the empty carriage, translates said movable partition (94) in correspondence with the relative standby area.

[0075] The system (1) also comprises, as noted, at least one unloading station (80) within the perimeter of said safety walls (90).

[0076] In one possible embodiment, said unloading station (80) is configured with one or preferably at least two unloading areas (801, 802) where the pallets intended to receive the machined workpieces from said robot (60) can be positioned.

[0077] Thanks to this solution, the palletization of the machined workpieces takes place directly inside the system (1). This results in an optimization of the processing time, because, once the pallet is completed, it can be simply removed and replaced, without requiring any conveyor belt for the workpieces that in the meantime were processed and completed by the robot (60).

[0078] In the embodiment shown in the figures, said unloading areas (801, 802) are side by side and there is at least one movable partition (951, 952) in correspondence with them that selectively enables/disables access to said unloading areas (801, 802).

[0079] Said unloading areas (801, 802) may also be delimited on all sides by further fixed or movable partitions (96).

[0080] In the preferred embodiment, said standby areas (13, 14) and said unloading areas (801, 802) are located and aligned along the same straight side (97) of the system, so as to optimize the use of space and movements of the utility vehicles handling the pallets. Said straight side (97) is preferably parallel to one of said directions (X) of translation of the carriage (21) of said Cartesian loader (20).

[0081] Therefore, with reference to the preceding description and the attached drawings the following claims are made.